Downtown Fright Night Events

October 4, 2012 Updated Oct 18, 2012 at 11:06 AM EDT

Fort Wayne’s most anticipated event of the Halloween season is bigger than ever—the 5th annual Fright Night Downtown is Saturday, October 20th. This year, there are over 20 different activities for people of all ages throughout the day. Fright Night is the best thing to happen to Halloween since free candy!

Start in the morning with the Pumpkin Zone, with activities and fun facts about pumpkins at the Botanical Conservatory, then creep around all afternoon to discover spooky (but kid-friendly!) activities at the Community Center and the downtown library, where there will be performances, activities and face painting for those preparing for the Zombie Walk.

Walk with the dead as the Zombie Walk parades along Wayne, Calhoun, Columbia and Harrison streets. The parade will be less than a mile long and rivals some of the largest zombie walks in the country, with thousands of costumed zombies taking to the streets.

There wouldn’t be a Fright Night without getting locked in the History Center jail and the Embassy Theatre’s annual silent movie, this year the feature is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with Dennis James on the Grande Page Theatre Pipe Organ. Activities for all ages abound with live music and a scavenger hunt at Parkview Field, a bonfire at the Marriott and anime dances for teens. Get spooked with supernatural ghost hunting in old buildings downtown or flaunt your costume at a Ghostly Gala or Braineaters Ball . Seeing a headless horseman at the Old Fort is sure to thrill and interacting with the Rocky Horror Picture is always a favorite way to end the night.

With more organizations and venues involved than ever before, you can limp and hobble your way through downtown all night long while enjoying one ghoulish activity after another because this event has all the gory details you crave!

Fright Night is a downtown event for ALL AGES, some activities have a small admission price and others are free. Find the entire list of Fright Night activities on the blog at www.downtownfortwayne.com, or www.frightnightdowntown.com

Fright Night Events

1.) Majic 95.1, WAJI
Listen for all the information about Fright Night and the events on Majic 95.1!
from October first through October 20
260-423-3676
waji.com

2.) Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
Pumpkin Zone
Enjoy pumpkin crafts, games, and snacks. You can also learn fun facts about pumpkins.
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
2 years and under are free, $3.00 3-17 years, $5.00 Adult
1100 S. Calhoun Street
260-427-6440
www.botanicalconservatory.org

3.) Embassy Theatre
Indiana Paranormal Inquisitor's Hunt for the Embassy Ghost
This special offering for ghost-hunt enthusiasts is a rare opportunity to spend the night at the Embassy Theatre.
11 p.m. - 4 a.m.
$60, includes ghost hunt and T-shirt. Reservations through Indiana Paranormal Inquisitor, jackieinquisitor@frontier.com or by calling 260.760.3644
125 W. Jefferson Blvd.
www.fwembassytheatre.org

4.) Downtown Improvement District
Families of all ages are encouraged to gather on the Allen County Public Library plaza and parking lot for zombie face-painting, entertainment and spooky snacks. The Zombie Machine will start cranking out zombies at 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. The Zombie Walk begins its parade through downtown at 5:30 pm. This is a free event.

Jumby’s Joint Food Truck will be on hand selling delicious treats to zombies and humans alike. Hitting the performance stage this year will be K Monique’s Dance Studio, the Fort Wayne Youtheatre, band Mind’s Eye Party, and Raq the Rivers belly dancers. Science Central will be on the library plaza concocting Zombie Snot.

The American Red Cross will be in the ACPL parking lot with a mobile blood donor unit for the “American Red Cross Zombie Blood Drive.” All donors at the Zombie Machine/Zombie Walk will receive the opportunity to enter a contest to win a trip to the set of AMC’s hit television show “The Walking Dead.” For full details, visit www.amcgiveblood.com and to set up an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Scarecrows by G@ze Solutions will be displayed at the event as part of the Scarecrow Tour to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Anyone interested in sponsoring and designing a scarecrow can call 918-6503 to reserve a space.

At 5:30pm, walk with the dead as the Zombie Walk parades along Wayne, Calhoun, Columbia and Harrison streets. The parade will be less than a mile long and rivals some of the largest zombie walks in the country, with thousands of costumed zombies taking to the streets.

Free trolleys will circle the downtown throughout the night shuttling participants to Fright Night venues.
www.FrightNightdowntown.com

5.) Community Center
Halloween Haunt
This family-friendly event includes kids’ crafts and games like Halloween cornhole, pumpkin bowling and pick-the-pumpkin.
2 - 5 pm
FREE
233 W. Main Street
260-427-6460
www.fortwayneparks.org

6.) Science Central
Zombie Snot
2:00-5:30pm
FREE
Main Branch ACPL Lawn area
260-424-2400 Ext.417
http://www.sciencecentral.org/

7.) The History Center
Explore the Calaboose
Experience the Old City Jail just as generations of inmates did until 1971.
5-9 p.m.
$2 per person
302 East Berry
260-426-2882
www.fwhistorycenter.com

8.) Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Fort Wayne
Bonfire at The Courtyard serving Fright Dogs & Blood Soup
Champion will have scary menu and employees in costume
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Champions Alley/Courtyard Marriott
260-490-3629

9.) Cinema Center
Braineaters’ Ball
Back for a second year among the walking dead, the Braineaters’ Ball will be held at Cinema Center, 437 E. Berry St., from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 20 as part of Downtown Fright Night. A zombifying mix of movies, art, music and dancing, the Braineaters’ Ball will also feature a “Living Dead Diner” theme this year, serving up diner food from JumBy’s JoiNt, a food truck that will be parked just outside of Cinema Center. The “Evening Special” will be cerebellum sliders for just $1.75 each or 3 for $5. Admission to Braineaters’ Ball is free and open to all ages.
The evening will also include free popcorn, a macabre art gallery featuring work by local artists, scenes from classic horror films, music by DJ Steve “Tiny” Michaels, dancing, prizes for best costume, and tasty libations for a freewill donation. In addition, a king and queen of the ball will be crowned at 8:30. Back by popular demand, photographer Bryant Rozier will also return to take photos of zombies and anyone in costume. Photos will later be posted on the Cinema Center Facebook page.
437 E. Berry St.
260 426-3456
www.cinemacenter.org

10.) Historic Fort Wayne ( Old Fort )
Old Fort Lantern Tours
Lantern light tours and tales of actual paranormal experiences with appearances by the Headless Horseman. $2 under 12 free with adult
1201 Spy Run
260-437-2836
www.oldfortwayne.org

11.) Allen County Public Library
Worlds Collide: the All Fandom Ball
Come dressed in your favorite cosplay, steampunk, or zombie attire for dancing and fun.
7:00; doors open 6:45 pm
Free for age 12 and up; registration required.
900 Library Plaza
421-1255

12.) Fort Wayne TinCaps/Parkview Field
Live Music & Kids Scavenger Hunt
Come see Johnny at the ballpark and take part in the scavenger hunt while listening to live music.
5-8 PM
FREE
Parkview Field - 1301 Ewing Street
260-482-6400
TinCaps.com

13.) Grand WayneCenter/Hilton Hotel
Ghostly Gala
The Halloween season casts a not-too-scary spell at a family friendly costume dance and parade. Fort Wayne School of Dance and DJ Laura keep the little monsters groovin’ to favorite Halloween tunes.
6pm - 8pm
FREE
The Ikasucon Halloween Rave
Dance and costume contest
7:30pm – Midnight
$5 admission - 12 and under to be accompanied by an adult
120 W. Jefferson St.
260.426.4100
www.grandwayne.com

14.) Embassy Theatre
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with Dennis James on the Grande Page
BLACK & WHITE SERIES. This 1919 film is one of the greatest horror movies of the silent film era.
7 p.m.
$8 for adults, $5 for students
125 W. Jefferson Blvd.
260.424.5665
www.fwembassytheatre.org

15.) Embassy Theatre
Embassy Tunnel Tours
Fort Wayne Shadow Chasers enthralls patrons during a tour of the belly of the Embassy with haunted tales about the resident ghost and other frightful historic legends.
4:30-6:30 p.m. and 7:30-10 p.m. Tours run every 10 minutes.
$5 per person.
125 W. Jefferson Blvd.
260.424.5665
www.fwembassytheatre.org

16.) Embassy Theatre
Spooky Stories
Sit for a spell in the Indiana Hotel Lobby and listen to spooky stories.
6-8 p.m.
FREE
Indiana Hotel Lobby 125 W. Jefferson Blvd.
260.424.5665
www.fwembassytheatre.org

17.) ARCH, Inc
ʺMurder, Mystery & Mayhem: Historic Tales of Fort Wayne's Nefarious Pastʺ walking tours
This tour is not another ghost tour. During this tour we will tell you the true dark history of Fort Wayne from disastrous building collapses to hangings and bloody battles. This tour may not be suitable for all ages, however, all ages are welcome.
6-10pm, tours will go out every hour on the hour
$10.00/Adults, $5.00/ 6-17yrs, and free for kids 5 & under
Indiana Hotel Lobby
260-426-5117
www.archfw.org

18.) ARCH, Inc
Ghost Hunt at the Canton Laundry
Join T.R.A.M.P.S paranormal group as they hunt for ghosts in the Canton Laundry Buildings recently acquired by ARCH. The hunts will run every 30 minutes and groups will be limited to 20 people. Registration is required at the Library plaza from 2:30-5:00pm
7-11pm
$2.00 per person paid at registration
1014 & 1016 Broadway
260-426-5117
www.archfw.org

19.) ARCH, Inc
Ghost Hunt at Alexander T. Rankin House
Join the Fort Wayne Indiana Ghost Trackets as they hunt for ghosts in the Alexander T. Rankin House. The hunts will run every 15 minutes and groups will be limited to 15 people. Registration is required at the Library plaza from 2:30-5:00pm
7-11pm
Cost: One can of food per person to be donated to the Community Harvest Food Bank
818 Lafayette Street
260-426-5117
www.archfw.org

20.) Fort Wayne Dance Collective
Fright Nightmares
FWDC presents its 4th annual Halloween show with choreography by seven local artists. The performance will include several pieces with live vocal accompaniment by the World Champion gold medalist, Voices of Unity Choir. Twenty-five local dancers will perform dances with themes that vary from being abducted by aliens, being chased by the unknown, being locked in a cage with remnants from the movie, “Carrie.”
This performance is NOT appropriate for children under 12.
7pm
Tickets are $15 and must be purchased through the Arts United box office via phone, 260.422.4226, or online at ArtsTix.org.
St. Francis Performing Arts Center (formerly Scottish Rite)
260-424-6574
fwdc.org

21.) Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Let's do the time warp agaaaaain! The movie will be shown outside on the Terrace, weather permitting; please dress accordingly. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and the movie starts at 9:15 p.m.
Doors open 8:00pm, Movie 9:15pm,
$1.00 3-17 years, $2.00 Adult, Those 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
1100 S. Calhoun Street
260-427-6440
www.botanicalconservatory.org

22.) Artlink

During the day, Dawn Pursel will “knit bomb” the trees in front of the Arts United Center on the Plaza.

Dead Artist Ball
Dress as your favorite artists at the Dead Artist Ball where we will also celebrate the opening of three exhibitions: ʺLetter.Words.Books. Exhibitʺ, ʺA Celebration of Freedom Exhibitʺ and Artwork by Audrey Riley.
6-9 p.m.
Auer Center for Arts and Culture, 300 East Main Street
Free to Artlink Members, suggested $2 donation for general public
www.artlinkfw.com
260-424-7195